Bike thieves to be driven off roads

POLICE are creating partnerships across the city in a drive to make Hull the cycling capital of Britain once again.

One of the main aims is to slash the number of cycle thefts across the city, which average at about 8,000 a year.

The scheme, which is being led by a cycle theft strategy group set up by Humberside Police, is already making an impact with a number of arrests of prolific cycle thieves.

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Inspector Bill Grieve, who heads the group, said: "In the inter-war years Hull was described as the UK's Cycling City. I would like to see this in the future as it would result in a better environment and a healthier populous.

"I feel that in order to achieve this people must feel they can use their cycles without fear of them being taken by thieves and as a result of this strategy I hope we can go some way to achieving this.

"It is important that the public assist us in this goal by protecting their cycles by utilising crime prevention advice, but also by informing authorities about cycle thieves living in their communities who think nothing of taking other peoples property.

"Together with our partners and help from the public we can make Hull a true cycle city again and a great place to live, work and visit."

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Police have been deploying new tactics to catch cycle thieves but have refused to go into detail about what they are. They have also asked for the public's help in cracking down on the black market in stolen cycles.

Insp Grieve said: "Clearly, 8,000 thefts is too many, but only 1,000 of those are taken from the street; the rest are from burglaries and thefts from sheds and garages and robberies.

"There's a market somewhere and the only way we are going to stop that is if people stop buying them and give information to us about who's responsible.

"We are catching quite a few people with some of the methods and realise they are prolific. Some people have made a living from it."

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To boost the enforcement process the partners will be distributing Crimestoppers "Bag a bike thief" leaflets in targeted areas to identify the thieves and urge members of the public to report any thefts or attempted thefts.

The group, which includes Hull Council, Citysafe and Hull Business Improvement District, is encouraging cyclists to have their bikes marked at a series of events and have them registered on the website www.immobilise. com

Participants will be given a "cycle passport" containing details of the marking and registration.

They are also being urged to improve the quality of cycle locks if necessary – and spend between 10 and 15 per cent of the value of a bike on an appropriate lock.

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They also want to encourage greater use of city centre cycle storage areas in George Street, Lowgate and Prospect Street.

Bicycles can also be parked for free in a secure area at Princes Quay Shopping Centre.

Councillor Dave Woods, the council's portfolio holder for environmental sustainability, said: "Cycling is an important element of Hull's integrated transport network and makes a major contribution to the city's social inclusion, health, economic and environmental well being.

"As a council we are encouraging people to cycle more, for example through our extensive network of cycle lanes and provision of cycle sheds in the city centre to working with our partners to keep cyclists and their cycles safe and secure."